Back from 1st Consultation Evening with Ben Kensell (COO)
Firstly, a big thank you to the Club and to Ben for doing these... and for buying the drinks!
Very open, very honest and, in my opinion, a genuine guy who wants to make Norwich better and do the best for the club and us, the fans.
Really magnanimous to admit that mistakes have been made and harsh lessons learned. The way in which the membership scheme was released, the lack of engagement with supporters, and the poor communications, in particular, he apologised for and said it would never happen again.
Three main reasons why the NCFC Board made the decision to change the membership scheme;
1. Income - the need to commercialise as much as possible within the club to support the self funded model. Decisions had already been taken to freeze ST prices, plus the desire to offer home tickets at the same price as the EPL capped away tickets. All income is important and required. Commercial partnerships were also grown by 2.5 times.
2. Current ST base and points allocation to them was unfair
3. The club's view from other feedback was that the current system was old, stale and seen as unchangeable by a number of supporters
Lots of research was done with other clubs, but not doing supporter consultation was a big mistake.
Personal view, so don't quote this as from the club, I think they are desperate to evolve the scheme. I think they are open to change. I think that everything is still on the table. These sessions are to gather views, thoughts and feedback to help the club come up with a scheme that is largely acceptable... it will never please everyone, that is impossible.
Ben collected in personal views and opinions from everyone and then we formed groups to discuss and agree a group view on what a changed scheme might look like (this involved around 7 groups). Each group presented and there were some common themes which emerged. Too much to detail here, but EVERYTHING was taken on board and nothing was off the table.
Some of the themes (raised by groups, not necessarily advocated, agreed, disagreed with);
Pricing
Tiered pricing
Familles
Loyalty
Weighted points systems
Ballots
Tiered systems
Capping membership sales
Guaranteed ticket(s)
On Sale window times and days
Comparison with other schemes
Ground development
Ben took quite a bit of flack on behalf of the club and, to his credit, he said it was his responsibility and everything would be fed back and inform new proposals to the Board.
As a quick example of the scale of the challenge, within the room there was a case for free memberships made and also a willingness to pay more than the current £50... there will never be a solution that meets everyone's own wants and desires.
There are two sessions planned in Norwich and another in Burnley for Northern based fans.
I shall now get my Kevlar vest, blast proof pants, NBC suit and BA out and await the fallout 😲
Posted By: Worthing Yellow on September 13th 2019 at 01:51:56
Message Thread
- Back from 1st Consultation Evening with Ben Kensell (COO) (NCFC) - Worthing Yellow, Sep 13, 01:51:56
- Thanks so much for taking the time to post - really valued reading that. :-) (n/m) (NCFC) - Under soil heating, Sep 13, 11:18:26
- Thanks for posting all that, interesting stuff and good to know. (n/m) (NCFC) - bird table, Sep 13, 10:04:07
- top notch wrathing again WY (NCFC) - Ralf Scrampton, Sep 13, 09:47:14
- Apert from the obvious, the thing that bothers me is how easy it is (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Sep 13, 09:46:43
- i know of some Nodge season ticket holders for whom we are their 2nd team (NCFC) - Ralf Scrampton, Sep 13, 09:52:15
- Thanks WY, really interesting and fair post. It’s going to be a really difficult one to (NCFC) - Bravo win or die, Sep 13, 07:28:09
- I think there are a host of fairly obvious changes they can and will make (NCFC) - Jim, Sep 13, 07:35:26
- I'm not sure if it's been said by the Club already, but time would have been against them (NCFC) - NorthByNorthWalsham, Sep 13, 08:53:34
- Yes although not sure they had much choice given the reaction and (NCFC) - Jim, Sep 13, 09:01:10
- I'm not sure if it's been said by the Club already, but time would have been against them (NCFC) - NorthByNorthWalsham, Sep 13, 08:53:34
- I think there are a host of fairly obvious changes they can and will make (NCFC) - Jim, Sep 13, 07:35:26
- He’s taken a lot of flak over this I think and to give him his (NCFC) - Jim, Sep 13, 07:18:45
- Thanks for posting (n/m) (NCFC) - Chris Peacock, Sep 13, 07:12:03
- what i genuinely don't understand (NCFC) - earthleakage, Sep 13, 02:53:06
- the very same people who complain about lack of investment.... (NCFC) - usacanary, Sep 13, 04:22:34
- with due respect (NCFC) - earthleakage, Sep 13, 04:29:59
- What is wrong with his point? (n/m) (NCFC) - KetteringRyu, Sep 13, 08:28:39
- Jesus first thing in the morning (n/m) (NCFC) - ghostof barry butler, Sep 13, 06:47:39
- Valid point though (n/m) (NCFC) - loz, Sep 13, 06:59:43
- is it (n/m) (NCFC) - ghostof barry butler, Sep 13, 07:06:09
- Valid point though (n/m) (NCFC) - loz, Sep 13, 06:59:43
- with due respect (NCFC) - earthleakage, Sep 13, 04:29:59
- the very same people who complain about lack of investment.... (NCFC) - usacanary, Sep 13, 04:22:34
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